BSN3A Nursing Ethics and Legal Issues – Exam
Practice Questions & Verified Answers with
Explained Rationales (2026/2027 Latest Update)
Comprehensive 250-Question Practice Exam
1. A patient who is mentally competent refuses a life-saving blood transfusion. The
nurse respects this decision. Which ethical principle is the nurse upholding?
A) Beneficence
B) Nonmaleficence
C) Autonomy
D) Justice
Answer: C
Rationale: Autonomy is the ethical principle of respecting a person's right to self-
determination and to make their own choices regarding their healthcare.
2. The ethical principle that requires nurses to "do good" and actively promote the
well-being of patients is known as:
A) Autonomy
B) Beneficence
C) Nonmaleficence
D) Veracity
Answer: B
Rationale: Beneficence is the duty to act in the patient's best interest, promote good, and
prevent harm.
3. The ethical principle that means "do no harm" and requires nurses to avoid
causing injury is:
A) Autonomy
B) Beneficence
C) Nonmaleficence
D) Justice
,Answer: C
Rationale: Nonmaleficence is the obligation to avoid causing harm, either intentionally or
unintentionally.
4. A nurse ensures that all patients receive equal care regardless of their
background, insurance, or social status. This reflects the principle of:
A) Autonomy
B) Beneficence
C) Fidelity
D) Justice
Answer: D
Rationale: Justice refers to fairness, equity, and treating all people equally.
5. What is the term for the ethical principle that requires a nurse to be truthful and
honest with patients?
A) Fidelity
B) Veracity
C) Accountability
D) Confidentiality
Answer: B
Rationale: Veracity is the duty to tell the truth.
6. The ethical principle of fidelity is best described as:
A) Being truthful and honest
B) Keeping promises and being faithful to commitments
C) Fair and equal treatment for all
D) Avoiding harm
Answer: B
Rationale: Fidelity involves loyalty, keeping promises, and following through on
commitments.
7. A nurse taking responsibility for a medication error and reporting it according
to policy is demonstrating which ethical principle?
,A) Fidelity
B) Veracity
C) Accountability
D) Justice
Answer: C
Rationale: Accountability means being responsible for one's actions and accepting the
consequences of those actions.
8. A nurse is caring for a patient with a terminal illness. The patient's family asks
the nurse not to tell the patient the diagnosis. The nurse explains the importance
of honesty and encourages the family to talk with the patient. This action
prioritizes which ethical principle?
A) Autonomy
B) Nonmaleficence
C) Veracity
D) Fidelity
Answer: C
Rationale: The nurse is upholding the principle of veracity (truth-telling).
9. According to the CNO (College of Nurses of Ontario) ethical values, which of the
following is a core value?
A) Profitability
B) Client well-being
C) Operational efficiency
D) Hierarchical authority
Answer: B
Rationale: Client well-being is a primary ethical value outlined by regulatory bodies.
10. The "principle of double effect" is used to evaluate the ethics of actions that
have both a good and a bad effect. Which condition is necessary for this principle
to apply?
A) The bad effect is a means to achieve the good effect.
B) The good effect is unintended.
C) The good effect is intended and the bad effect is a foreseen but unintended
, consequence.
D) The bad effect is the primary goal.
Answer: C
Rationale: The principle of double effect allows an action with a potentially harmful side
effect if the primary intention is to achieve a good outcome.
11. The ethical framework known as "ethical egoism" promotes the idea that:
A) Decisions should be made based on a sense of moral duty.
B) What is right is what is best for the individual making the decision.
C) Decisions should be made based on the end result being happiness for the greatest
number of people.
D) All decisions should be centered in love and respect for others.
Answer: B
Rationale: Ethical egoism is a theory that suggests actions are morally right if they
promote the individual's own long-term interests.
12. Utilitarianism is an ethical theory that focuses on:
A) Acting in accordance with a sense of duty.
B) Treating others with dignity and respect.
C) The outcome of an action, aiming for the greatest good for the greatest number.
D) Following rules and laws without exception.
Answer: C
Rationale: Utilitarianism is a consequentialist theory; the morality of an action is
determined by its outcome.
13. A nurse asks a colleague for help with an ethical dilemma. The colleague listens
and explores the issue without immediately offering advice. This approach is
consistent with:
A) Ethical egoism
B) Christian ethics
C) Deontology
D) Virtue ethics
Practice Questions & Verified Answers with
Explained Rationales (2026/2027 Latest Update)
Comprehensive 250-Question Practice Exam
1. A patient who is mentally competent refuses a life-saving blood transfusion. The
nurse respects this decision. Which ethical principle is the nurse upholding?
A) Beneficence
B) Nonmaleficence
C) Autonomy
D) Justice
Answer: C
Rationale: Autonomy is the ethical principle of respecting a person's right to self-
determination and to make their own choices regarding their healthcare.
2. The ethical principle that requires nurses to "do good" and actively promote the
well-being of patients is known as:
A) Autonomy
B) Beneficence
C) Nonmaleficence
D) Veracity
Answer: B
Rationale: Beneficence is the duty to act in the patient's best interest, promote good, and
prevent harm.
3. The ethical principle that means "do no harm" and requires nurses to avoid
causing injury is:
A) Autonomy
B) Beneficence
C) Nonmaleficence
D) Justice
,Answer: C
Rationale: Nonmaleficence is the obligation to avoid causing harm, either intentionally or
unintentionally.
4. A nurse ensures that all patients receive equal care regardless of their
background, insurance, or social status. This reflects the principle of:
A) Autonomy
B) Beneficence
C) Fidelity
D) Justice
Answer: D
Rationale: Justice refers to fairness, equity, and treating all people equally.
5. What is the term for the ethical principle that requires a nurse to be truthful and
honest with patients?
A) Fidelity
B) Veracity
C) Accountability
D) Confidentiality
Answer: B
Rationale: Veracity is the duty to tell the truth.
6. The ethical principle of fidelity is best described as:
A) Being truthful and honest
B) Keeping promises and being faithful to commitments
C) Fair and equal treatment for all
D) Avoiding harm
Answer: B
Rationale: Fidelity involves loyalty, keeping promises, and following through on
commitments.
7. A nurse taking responsibility for a medication error and reporting it according
to policy is demonstrating which ethical principle?
,A) Fidelity
B) Veracity
C) Accountability
D) Justice
Answer: C
Rationale: Accountability means being responsible for one's actions and accepting the
consequences of those actions.
8. A nurse is caring for a patient with a terminal illness. The patient's family asks
the nurse not to tell the patient the diagnosis. The nurse explains the importance
of honesty and encourages the family to talk with the patient. This action
prioritizes which ethical principle?
A) Autonomy
B) Nonmaleficence
C) Veracity
D) Fidelity
Answer: C
Rationale: The nurse is upholding the principle of veracity (truth-telling).
9. According to the CNO (College of Nurses of Ontario) ethical values, which of the
following is a core value?
A) Profitability
B) Client well-being
C) Operational efficiency
D) Hierarchical authority
Answer: B
Rationale: Client well-being is a primary ethical value outlined by regulatory bodies.
10. The "principle of double effect" is used to evaluate the ethics of actions that
have both a good and a bad effect. Which condition is necessary for this principle
to apply?
A) The bad effect is a means to achieve the good effect.
B) The good effect is unintended.
C) The good effect is intended and the bad effect is a foreseen but unintended
, consequence.
D) The bad effect is the primary goal.
Answer: C
Rationale: The principle of double effect allows an action with a potentially harmful side
effect if the primary intention is to achieve a good outcome.
11. The ethical framework known as "ethical egoism" promotes the idea that:
A) Decisions should be made based on a sense of moral duty.
B) What is right is what is best for the individual making the decision.
C) Decisions should be made based on the end result being happiness for the greatest
number of people.
D) All decisions should be centered in love and respect for others.
Answer: B
Rationale: Ethical egoism is a theory that suggests actions are morally right if they
promote the individual's own long-term interests.
12. Utilitarianism is an ethical theory that focuses on:
A) Acting in accordance with a sense of duty.
B) Treating others with dignity and respect.
C) The outcome of an action, aiming for the greatest good for the greatest number.
D) Following rules and laws without exception.
Answer: C
Rationale: Utilitarianism is a consequentialist theory; the morality of an action is
determined by its outcome.
13. A nurse asks a colleague for help with an ethical dilemma. The colleague listens
and explores the issue without immediately offering advice. This approach is
consistent with:
A) Ethical egoism
B) Christian ethics
C) Deontology
D) Virtue ethics
